Massively multiplayer educational online role playing game

• US 8,016,680 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trion World ABC LLC
• Original Assignee: Gazillion, Inc. (Samarion SE)
• Inventors: Hutter, Robert J, Devaney, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): MYHR, JUSTIN L
• Application Number:
  US11/739,646
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/42, 434/128, 434/322, 434/350
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A massively multiplayer educational online game presents a computer generated gameplay world where acquiring and demonstrating mastery of educational skills is a requirement for survival and advancement of a learner'"'"'s game character. The game provides a method for effectively teaching a set of target educational skills by motivating the learner to improved understanding of the skills by having to demonstrate the skills as part of the game. The skills become immediately meaningful and relevant to the learner within the game itself, as feedback on skill understanding is provided directly, indirectly, or both directly and indirectly through game performance, motivating the learner to improve understanding of the skills.

Claims

1. A method of providing a massive multiplayer educational role playing game to a learner from a server comprising:

a. connecting a learner'"'"'s control module to a learner connection arranged to connect to the server and containing a learner profile and a billing system;

b. validating the learner'"'"'s credit;

c. updating the learner'"'"'s profile for game access;

d. selecting a multiplicity of target education skills;

e. providing the learner one or more persistent characters used in the game with a starting character game level;

f. using an activity module to provide a multiplicity of activities;

g. requiring demonstration of target education skills in a first group of activities to provide the character a PGO;

h. arranging first group activities to provide monetary units;

i. enabling a character object exchange arranged such that characters exchange PGO'"'"'s, whereby required objects are obtained by exchange;

j. varying the type of PGO and amount of monetary units provided in first group activities dependent on errors in demonstration of target education skills;

k. providing a second group of activities without target education skills;

l. arranging the activity module to require a predetermined type and amount of PGO'"'"'s produced by first group activities to successfully complete a second group activity whereby indirect feedback is provided;

m. exchanging PGO'"'"'s for monetary units;

n. updating the learner'"'"'s profile upon successful completion of activities for demonstration of target education skills; and

o. charging the learner'"'"'s credit card on a periodic basis, whereby for a payment of money, a learner is motivated by indirect feedback to learn target education skills.

2. The method of providing the game as in claim 1 further comprising providing PGO enhancements with variable performance characteristics in first group activities where the activity module also requires a predetermined performance characteristic PGO enhancement produced by first group activities to successfully complete a second group activity.

3. The method of providing the game as in claim 2 further comprising arranging the character object exchange such that characters exchange PGO'"'"'s, PGO enhancements, and PGO enhancements with variable performance characteristics for monetary units whereby the required object is obtained by exchange.

4. The method of providing the game as in claim 3 further comprising providing character enhancements with variable performance characteristics in first group activities where the activity module also requires a predetermined performance characteristic character enhancement produced by first group activities to successfully complete a second group activity.

5. The method of providing the game as in claim 4 further comprising arranging the character object exchange such that characters exchange PGO'"'"'s, PGO enhancements, character enhancements, PGO enhancements with variable performance characteristics, and character enhancements with variable performance characteristics for monetary units whereby the required object is obtained by exchange.

6. A system for motivating learner success in target education skill practice when playing a massive multiplayer educational role playing game from a server communicated through a learner connection to a learner'"'"'s control module comprising:

a. a multiplicity of characters such that each learner controls one or more persistent characters,

b. the characters arranged such that they exist under the learner control during multiple sessions of game play;

c. an activity module arranged to provide a multiplicity of activities;

d. a multiplicity of target education skills chosen based on the learners educational attainment;

e. the activities arranged in a first group including a target education skill practice and a second group without the target education skill;

f. a character level system arranged to accumulate the experience and accomplishments of the character by allocating an experience point value when the character successfully completes a game activity;

g. a character profile that is translated to a learner profile representing progress in mastery of the target educational skills;

h. the character profile containing a profile of character game experiences including experience points;

i. the activities in the first group arranged to give the character a possession chosen from the group consisting of craft object and craft object enhancement with a variable appearance;

j. an activity arranged to provide monetary units;

k. a character object exchange arranged such that a character obtains a possession appearance improvement using monetary units; and

l. the activities in the second group arranged to show one or more possessions with a variable appearance wherein the learner is motivated by indirect feedback to succeed in target education skill practice by the desire to display attractive character possessions.

7. The system as in claim 6 further comprising:

a. a character inventory that is arranged to record character possessions;

b. selected activities in the first group arranged to provide a character inventory with a possession chosen from the group consisting of PGO, PGO attribute, and character attribute;

c. the character object exchange arranged such that a character obtains a possession chosen from the group consisting of PGO, PGO attribute, and character attribute using monetary units; and

d. one or more possessions required in the character inventory for successful completion of selected second group activities wherein the learner is motivated to succeed in target education skill practice in order to advance the character in the game and to produce a favorable learner profile.

8. The system as in claim 7 further comprising:

a. selected activities in the first group arranged to provide a character inventory with one or more possessions with a variable performance attribute, the attribute improving with fewer errors in the skill practice;

b. the character object exchange arranged such that a character obtains a possession with an improved performance attribute using monetary units; and

c. activities in the second group arranged to require one or more possessions with a selected minimum performance attribute to succeed in the activity wherein the learner is provided motivation to succeed in target education skill practice to advance the character in the game and produce a favorable learner profile.

9. The system as in claim 8 further comprising:

a. one or more communities with a multiple character community inventory such that first and second group activities are played in each community;

b. a multiplicity of professions arranged such that the learner chooses a profession for each character;

c. selected community activities arranged such that one or more characters participates in activities in a manner associated with the character'"'"'s profession;

d. selected group one activities arranged to provide a character with a profession-associated possession chosen from the group consisting of PGO, PGO attribute, and character attribute;

e. the character object exchange arranged such that a character obtains a profession associated possession using monetary units; and

f. one or more party, group, and community multi-character activities arranged to require one or more profession-associated possessions for successful completion of the activity, wherein the learner is provided motivation to succeed in target education skill practice to advance the character in the game and produce a favorable learner profile.

10. A method of using a multiplayer game from a server communicated through a learner connection to a learner'"'"'s control module to provide indirect feedback to learners on educational skill practice results comprising:

a. creating a game realm which provides a virtual world display on a learner control module;

b. providing a multiplicity of characters within the realm arranged such that each learner controls one or more characters;

c. keeping a character inventory of character possessions and attributes;

d. tracking a multiplicity of character attributes;

e. using an activity module to provide a multiplicity of activities;

f. defining a multiplicity of target education skills chosen based on the learners educational attainment;

g. arranging the realm activities in a first group including a target education skill practice and a second group without the target education skill;

h. determining errors in target education skill practice;

i. measuring game performance in second group activities;

j. using one or more first type activities to vary the possessions attributes and character attributes provided for one or more second type activities dependant on errors in target education skill practice;

k. providing first type activities that provide rewards, such as monetary units;

l. arranging the character object exchange such that a character obtains a possession with a selected minimum performance attribute using monetary units; and

m. arranging second type game activities to require one or more specified possessions attributes and character attributes to improve game performance wherein the learner game performance provides indirect feedback on errors in target education skill practice, motivating the learner.

11. A multiplayer game for teaching learners a multiplicity of target education skills from a server communicated through a learner connection to a learner'"'"'s control module comprising:

a. means for engaging each learner in target education skill practice;

b. means for each learner receiving one or more game possessions for demonstrating the target education skills;

c. means for measuring game performance;

d. means for game activities without target education skills;

e. means for providing a virtual economy between characters using monetary units; and

f. means for each learner receiving feedback on errors in demonstration of target education skills by reduced game performance of game possessions.

12. A method of providing indirect feedback on education skill practice errors to a learner playing an educational game from a server communicated through a learner connection to a learner'"'"'s control module:

a. providing the learner one or more characters used in the game with a starting character game level;

b. selecting a set of target education skills;

c. requiring a first type of game activity including target education skill practice to obtain a character possession;

d. providing one or more character possessions with limited performance attributes if errors are made in the target education skill practice;

e. allowing participation in a second type game activities without target education skills using possessions with limited performance attributes;

f. determining a game performance level on second type game activities;

g. requiring further participation in one or more first type game activity to obtain possessions that improve game performance level;

h. providing a character inventory to maintain character possessions;

i. requiring specific character possessions in inventory to improve game performance level in second type activities;

j. withholding character possessions required to improve game performance level when errors are made in first type activity target education skill practice and providing possessions and character attributes with improved performance when less errors are made in the practice;

k. providing a character object exchange arranged such that characters exchange possessions;

l. using monetary units in the character object exchange wherein a virtual economy exists between characters; and

m. providing first type game activities that reward a character with monetary units whereby the learner receives indirect feedback on errors in target education skill practice from game performance motivating the learner to reduce errors.

13. An educational multiplayer game from a server communicated through a learner connection to a learner'"'"'s control module comprising:

a. a multiplicity of characters arranged to be controlled by the players;

b. a multiplicity of character possessions;

c. a multiplicity of activities arranged for character participation using character possessions;

d. a means for scoring activity success;

e. selected activities arranged to require a possession for activity success;

f. selected activities arranged for a character to obtain monetary units;

g. a character object exchange arranged such that a character exchanges monetary units for possessions such that a virtual economy exists;

h. one or more target education skills;

i. the activities arranged in a first group including a target education skill practice and a second group without the target education skill;

j. the first group activities arranged such that a skill mastery score is dependant on the errors in the target education skill;

k. the first group activities further arranged to provide a variable performance attribute possession required for success in second group activities; and

l. the second group activity score is dependant on the errors in the target education skill practice in the first group activity.

14. The game of claim 13 further comprising one or more second group activities arranged to require a specific possession for success in the activity and one or more first group activities arranged to provide the specific possession only if the target education skill practice meets a specified number of errors.

15. The game of claim 13 further comprising one or more first group activities arranged to provide a possession with a variable appearance, the appearance arranged to improve with fewer errors in target education skill practice.

16. The game of claim 13 further comprising one or more first group activities arranged to provide a character attribute with a variable performance in second group activities arranged such that performance improves with fewer errors in target education skill practice.

17. The game of claim 13 further comprising one or more first group activities arranged to provide the possession with a variable performance in second group activities arranged such that performance improves with fewer errors in target education skill practice.

18. The game of claim 13 further comprising providing additional activities based on fewer errors in target education skill practice.

19. The game of claim 13 further comprising providing one or more first group activities with a reward independent of errors in target education skill practice.

20. The game of claim 13 further comprising providing one or more second group activities with a reward independent of errors in target education skill practice.

21. The game of claim 19 further comprising varying the scoring of first group activities between the score dependant on errors in target education skill practice and the score independent of errors in target education skill practice.

22. The game of claim 20 further comprising varying the scoring of second group activities between the score dependant on errors in target education skill practice and the score independent of errors in target education skill practice.